St. Landry democrat., 1887-04-16
CCURTSHtP IN MEXICO.
The Way in Which, Lovers Are CoUa leiien
to Woo the Fair SenOritas.

The Way in WIiiCI, Lovers Are CoBa leiien
to Woo the Fair SehOritas.
Mexican ladies seldom 60 out with
out some onc of the family or 3 SER
want. They do not have gentlemen
visitors. There is no Chance for gal
liant youth to burn the midnight oil Or
gas II hi, prospective father-in-law' S
expense. If IA young man has been
acquainted with girl from childhood,
or by some accident is allowed to visit
the family and becomes II lover. he is
immediately forbidden the house. and
must continue his couroing as best he
can. 1t is then the balcony is of ser
vice. A signal is agreed upon, and the
senorita with ears alert hears it. and
appears upon the balcony and con-
verses with her lover below il the
street. Notes are secretly exchanged,
but never through the mail. To give
you an idea of Mexican courtship and
how Cupid breaks down the barriers
made by ignorance and superstition, |
will explain what is here termed "play-
ing the bear" This is very popular
game-at least it seems so among the
MeNicans. 1t is played by two per-
sons, a lady and a gentleman. Both
are usually young-in their teens as II
were-thongh there are instances of
the game being played by couples who
had passed that period by several
years.
A young man becomes smitten with
a fair charmer at the opera or at
church. He follows the lady to her
home. Having that located, he makes
it his business to be in that neighbor-
hood as much as possible. He will
stroll by the house with his eyes ex-
prcssivc of the state of his heart, and if
he should catch a glimpse Of his fair
one he is happy. If he receives q snile
he becomes intoxicated with love and
is ready to play the "bear' for an in
definite period Of time. If the lady is
seated on the balcony when Romeo
arrives upon the scene she usually
withdraws, after exchanging glances
with him. This programme is kept up
for months. At last he receives a smile
from fair Juliet. From smiles they get
to exchanging a few words. There have
been actual cases where the bear has
frolicked about for year or two be-
fore the tickle maid would exchange a
word with him. Very often there arc
two Or three bears casting longing eyes
in the same direction. This frequently
causes bad blood. AS soon as the cou-
pie begin to know each others voices
matters progress rapidly. After they
arrive at sn understanding the perse-
vering lover hastens to the padre. The
kind priest finding that there is no rea-
son for objection on either side, pro-
ceeds to intercede with the girls pa
rents and gain him admission to the
domicile of his lady love. As soon as
a young man enters the house he is
engaged to the daughter. A
quickly follows, and there is
no more playing the bear'' SO far as
that young man is concerned.
A great deal depends ON the girl in
this game. She can make it long or
a short game. There has been a case
brought to my notice of a young man
who has never missed an evening for |
nearly three years, and he is still only !
in the first stage of the game, posing or
up and down in front of the
senorita's home hoping to receive
smile. Close observers say that, SO far.
she only condeseends to let him see the
least bit of her white dress through the
half-closed French windows that open
On the balcony. He was asked why he
played the bear so long when he met
with so little encouragement His re-
ply was:
"Oh, Hove her so dearly! And she is
30 rich!" | passed by "a house a few
evenings since and saw lover stand
ng.in the shadow of friendly door
way. He had guitar. L moved in
he shadow to see the by-play. As tho
soft notes broke the quietude of the
evening | saw a window open in a
louse adjoining and senorita step out
IN the balcony. The music continued
or a few moments and then ceased.
saw the fair one drop something over
he balcony. The lover caught it and
ctired into the shadow again. Istroll-
ID up the street. crossed over, and
vent toward them. I saw he was
,olding something to his ear, and l
new telephone communications was
'erfect between these two loving hearts.
There is no such thing as being in
reduced. even though he lover be ac-
by q relation. Should the
arties meet on the promenade and the
elative desires to speak with his fair
elative he excuses himself and joins